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Dozens of men in Styria, in the southeast of Austria, have been blackmailed by an unknown woman who threatens to publish videos on the Internet showing the men engaged in sex acts.

Anton Kiesl from Styrian police told the ORF that on Tuesday alone three men filed complaints that they had been the victim of a sex-blackmail scam.

The victims typically receive a call from an unknown woman via Skype, who invites them to have some fun of a personal nature.

A few days later the victim receives another call from the woman who demands money from him, threatening to publish the sex video on the Internet if he doesn’t pay up.

Kiesl said that so far police have few clues as to who the woman might be and that technically it is difficult to track her location. Police have advised men to be wary of strange women requesting their friendship on Skype.

Kiesl believes there are many other victims who are too embarrassed to come forward, and may have paid up instead of calling the police.

He said that the victims are from all age groups, including students and some public figures who are well known in Styria.